Pats eliminate Bulldogs from Memorial Cup

REGINA, Sask. – The Canadian Hockey League season will come down to one day.

Having already booked a ticket to the final, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan now know who they will face as the host team is moving on.

Despite being outshot by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, the Regina Pats beat the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs 4-2 at the Brandt Centre in Regina to advance to the MasterCard Memorial Cup final on Sunday.

“It was a really hard-fought, tremendous game by both teams,” said Regina Coach John Paddock. “You had to fight for every inch of ice. It was quite a hockey game.”

“We ran into a team that did all of the little things right to give themselves a chance to win,” said Hamilton Coach John Gruden. 

Pats goaltender Max Paddock stopped 44 shots, including 21 in the third period to lead the Pats to the victory. 

“He seemed confident and calm,” Gruden said.

Veteran Pats forward Sam Steel scored the game-winning goal with just under six minutes to go after Hamilton goaltender Kaden Fulcher came out to play the puck and turned it over. Steel took the turnover and deposited it into the empty Hamilton goal to make it 3-1 at the time. 

“It was a big goal at the right time,” Paddock said. 

“(Fulcher) tried to make a play on the puck,” Gruden said. “Things happen. There are no regrets.”

Will Bitten would pull Hamilton back to within one just over a minute later but the Bulldogs couldn’t find the equalizer as Jake Leschyshyn sealed the win with an empty net goal in the final seconds of the game.

Steel finished the day with a goal and an assist. Austin Pratt and Cameron Hebig also scored for the Pats.

Nicholas Mattinen had the other Hamilton goal. Ben Gleason assisted on both Bulldogs goal.

Fulcher made 20 saves for Hamilton.

“I told them in the second intermission that we were going to go down swinging,” Gruden said.

“I’m proud of the way they left it out there,” Gruden said.